Pilgrimage, Book 3 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
Of the Saracene Name, Nation, and proceeding in Armes.
PLINY lib. 6. cap. 28. mentioneth among other Arabian Nations the Saracens: placing them neere to the Nabathaeans. Ptolomey aGeograph. lib.6.c.7.likewise nameth the Scenites so called of their tents, which with themselues, their flockes, and substance they remoued vp and downe from place to place. Posteritie hath called all these Tent-wanderers (saith bScenitas Arabas quos Saracenos nunc appellamus.A.M.l.22Scaliger out of Ammianus Marcellinus) Sarracenes: and so doth Ptolomey in the next words call the next adioining people, seating them in the Northerly bounds of Arabia Foelix. In the same Chapter he setteth downe Saraca, the name of an Arabian. Epiphanius lib. 1. saith that the Tribes of the Agarens or Ismaelites, are now called Saracens. cBoterus. Curio.alij.Some later Authors hauehave written, that because Ishmael was the sonne of Haegar a bond-woman, his nicer posteritie hauehave disclaimed that descent, and deriued their pedegree and name from Sara. Iosephus Scaliger, in his Annotations vponupon Eusebius Chronicle, after that he hath cited the former testimonie of Ammianus, and of Oukelos on the 37. of Genesis, addeth the authoritie of Stephanus; who affirmeth Saraka to be a region of Arabia, neere the Nabathaeans, of which hee thinketh that the Saracens borrowed their name. We know (saith Scaliger) that the Arabian Nomades are so called: for Sarak in Arabian soundeth as much, that is (furaces foreign ) theeuish or robbers, such as the Cosakes, Tartars, &c. De Sara, perridiculum: To call them Saracens of Sara is ridiculous; for then either they must be called Saraei, or she Saraca. dAm.Mar.l.14Marcellinus thus writeth of them; This people stretcheth from the Assyrians to the falles of Nilus: all warriours, halfe naked, in couloured iackes. None ploweth or planteth, but they wander vp and downe without houses or lawes; their life being alwaies in flight. Their wiues they hire and Couenant with for a time: which breede childe in one place, and bring forth in another, and neuer rest. Their foode is Venison, Milke, Hearbes, and such foules as they can take: the most, that wee hauehave seene, know not the vse of Wheate or Wine. Like Kites they snatch their prey, but stay nor by it, whether they winne or loose. They are such, as the Romans neede neuer wish them their friendes or their enemies. In the time of Iulian eLib.25.they made out-rodes and spoiles on the Romane prouinces, because they were denyed their wonted stipends by Iulian, who told them that he had better store of Iron then golde.
This name Saracene may well befit that course of life which they embraced: for in the more Southerly parts of Arabia, they are more ciuill and rich, dwelling in Cities, and hauehave quicke trade, which all are wanting about Medina and Mecca, places so renowned by the life and death of Mahomet. Neither doth it seeme probable that those which were called Agarenes in the continued succession of so many ages, as appeareth 1. Chron. 5. 10. and Psal. 83.6. would after grow ashamed of that: or that Ishmael, which derided the hopes concerned of Isaac the sonne of Sara, would nourish his posteritie in the same hope, or leaue to them any honourable memorie of Sara, vvho had reiected him together vvith his mother. Yea, and their owne superstitious Legend proueth the contrarie, as shall appeare in the next Chapter.
This robbing and rogueing people liued in much obscuritie, vntill that darknesse brought them to light, and a Religion newly stamped by Mahomet, in a secret and iust iudgement of GOD, for the contempt of the trueth, vvas by as new a kinde of preaching (viz. force of Armes) obtruded on the luke-warme vvorld. For vvhen as Mahomet, (of vvhose life solloweth a large discourse) had obserued that sicke state of the Empire affected vvith Iewish rebellion, Persian inuasion, and Nestorian infection, besides the securitie of the Head it selfe, Heraclius then Emperour: hee thought good to take Occasion by the forelocke, and to strike whiles the iron was hote. First, fSaracen.hist. Curio.l.1 Dreshleri.chron. Boter. Ph…yg Chron. Car.Chron. Sabel. Aen.8.l.7. Volaterran l.12 Chron.Arab. Politie of the Turkish Empire, &c.vnderunder pretence of Religion hauing inueagled a multitude of Disciples, hee made a commotion in Arabia: and being therefore driuen out of Mecca, many of his followers resorted to him: Of whom he appointed Captaines and leaders of the rest, Vbequar, Omar, Ozmen, Alifre, Talaus, Azubeirus, Zadimus, Zaedinus & Abuobeid. The Arabians (as some affirme) aided Heraclius in his warre against Cosdroes the Persian: and after that warre ended, the Arabians complaining for want of pay, the Treasurer answered that there was scarce sufficient for the Greeke and Romane souldiors, much lesse for that company of dogges. Wherevpon, as long before on like occasion they had rebelled in the reigne of Iulian, so now enraged they departed into Syria, and adioined themselues vntounto Mahumet, who euen then after the Persian victory had obtained (some say) of the Emperour whom he serued in those warres, to himselfe and his followers, a Region to inhabite; the Emperour so rewarding his exploites in the late warres. Mahumet with this supply assailed Mecca, which diuers times before he had in vaine attempted, and tooke it, with other peeces in Arabia, viz. Hunaim, Ietrip, Tambic, &c. He afterwards created foure Generals, whom he called the foure sharpe swords of GOD, and commanded them to goe into the foure parts of the world, and kill all such as would not embrace his Lawe. These foure were Ebubezer, gThe Arabian nam… s in other languages are translated iuersly.or Vbequar, Omer, Osmen, and Ali. Ebubezer went into Palestina, but was ouerthrowne by Theodorus Begarius, Caesars Lieuetenant. About the same time died Mahumet, and this hAbu-becher.Ebubezer succeeded him; although Mahumet had designed Ali his successor. Eubocara or Abubacher (for diuersly is this Ebubezer called) hauing by his might, and the assistance of Homar and Osmen, obtained to be iCalifa, or Amira was the name of the chiefe place or soueraintie in cases spirituall and temporall: the successor of Mahomet.Califa, ouerthrew the imperials, and soone after died. Homar the next Califa wanne Bosra the chiefe Citie of Arabia, and all the country as far as Gabata, and put Theodorus, the Emperors brother, to flight. He besieged Damascus, and hauing broken the forces that came to rescue it, obtained it: subduing also all Phoenicia. After that, turning his forces into Aegypt, Cyrus the Bishop of Alexandria stayed him with promise of 200000. peeces of golde, for yeerely Tribute. This vvas disannulled by Heraclius, and Emanuel the deputy denied the paiment: wherevpon entring the second time vnderunder conduct of Hamrus, Aegypt was conquered. After two yeares siege, Ierusalem also was wonne. Iaidus one of his Captaines subdued Edessa, and all Mesopotamia. Afterwards placing Muauias ouer all the countries betweene Euphrates and Nilus, hee inuaded Persia: where the Persians lost both their King Hormisda, their state, religion, & name: of Persians being conuerted into Saracens. This victorious Homar made Ierusalem his royall seate, where he built a Temple to Mahumet: and while he was praying, was murthered by his seruant.
Ozmen, kOthman 4.the succeeding Caliph, sent a great Armie into Africa, vnderunder the leading of Hucba: who ouercomming Gregorious Patritius and destroying Carthage, subiected all that Prouince to their Empire; making Tunes the Mother-citie: but soone after translated that honour to Cairoan, which he būilt thirty sixe miles from the Sea, and a hundred from Tunnes. In the third yeare of his reigne Muauias the Deputy of Egypt with a Nauy of seuen hundred, or, as others say, of a hundred and seuenty saile, assailed Cyprus, and taking Constantia, wasted the whole Iland: and hauing wintered his Armie at Damascus, the next yeare besieged Arad in Cyprus and wonne it, and dispeopled all the Ile. Thence he inuaded the continent of Asia, and carried away many prisoners: and after, in a Sea-fight with Constans the Emperor, died the Lycian Sea with Christian bloud. He wanne Rhodes, and sold to a Iewe the brazen Colosse or pillar of the Sunne, which laded nine hundred Camels, sometime reckoned one of the worlds seuen wonders, made in twelue yeares space by Chares. After this he afflicted the Cyclades Ilands in the Archipelago, and then sent his Fleete against Sicilia, where they made spoile with fire and sword, till by Olympius they were chased thence. Muauias himselfe with an Armie by land entred into Cappadocia: Iaid hauing ouer-runne all the neighboring Armenia, vntounto the hill Caucasus. But meane while Ozmen, besieged in his house by Ali his faction, slew himselfe, when he had liued eightie and seuen yeares, and reigned twelue. The Saracens could not agree about their new Prince; Muavi and lHali.5.Ali with great armies, beeing Corriuals of that dignitie: and Ali, being treacherously murdered by Muavius meanes, in a Temple neare Cusa a citie of Arabia, was there buried, and the place is of him called Massadalle or Alli his house. mHasen ben Ali.Alhacem, the sonne of Ali and Fatima Mahumeta daughter, was by Muavia his owne hands crowned, nSome say he resigned, and he with Muaui are reckoned but the sixth Caliph of the Arabians.and by him soone after poysoned. Thus was Muavi sole Caliph, who graunted peace to the Emperour, on condition that hee should pay him euerie dair oThis daily tribute was both ceased & inuerted soone after, when Abdimelech made peace with the Emperour, with promise to pay him the like tribute. P.Diacon.tenne pounds of golde; and a Gentleman seruant with a horse. Damascus was now made the seate Royall. Hee subdewed the sect of Ali in Persia, and after inuaded Cilicia, and sent (to aide Sapores) a band of Saracens, which afflicted Chalcedon, and sacked Armaria a citie of Phrygia; and with a fleet inuaded Sicill, tooke Siracuse, and carried away with them the riches of Sicilia, and of Rome it selfe, lately fleeced by the Emperour, and heere horded. An other armie of Saracens, ouer-running the Sea coast of Africa led away eight hundred thousand prisoners.
Muamad and Caise on the other side subdewed to Muaui, Lydia, and Cilicia; pAbout these times another false prophet called Muctar, obtained Persia, and the Arabians were troubled. P. Diacon.in Iustin:and after, with Savus an other Saracen Generall, besieged Constantinople, from Aprill to September: and taking Cizicum, there wintred their forces, and in the Spring, returned to their siege, which they continued seuen yeeres; but by diuine assistance, and force of tempest, they were chased thence. And Constantiue slew three hundred thousand Saracens, in a battell (not long after) against Susra the nephew of Muavi. and compelled the Saracens to pay a great tribute. qAnno 679.Iezid reigned after the death of Muavi his father, (a better Poet then Souldier) he soone died. Neither did his successors Marvan and Abdalan liue two yeares in the roome. rAbdimelec sonne of Maruan. Scal.9. & P.Diacon. in lustiniano.Abdimelec was chosen Caliph, who descended from Hali, when as Abdalan of the Image of Eubocara (the Arabians call this the Maraunian race; the other Abazian) had possessed himselfe of that Title by force, whome Ciafa the kinsman of Abdimelec ouer̄threw. Ciasa after this victory entring Damascus, plucked Iazid (one of the former Caliphs) out of his graue, burned his bones, and hurled the ashes into the riuer, and cruelly persecuted all the Maraunian stocke.
Hereupon sOthers call him AbdulMu. men.Abedramon one of that house with a great number of his friends and followers fled into Mauritania Tingitana, where he was welcomed of the Saracens there being, and first intitled himselfe Miralmumim, which signifieth The Prince of Beleeuers, and then builded tLeo writeth otherwise, as in our 6. Booke shall appeere: hee saith Marocco was built in the 424 yere of their Hegira.Marocco. Abdimelec hauing other yrons in the fire, neglected this: First appeasing tumults in his owne state; then ouerthrowing the Emperour in the field: after receiuing (by treason of the Deputy) Armenia; winning that part of Persia, which yet was subiect to the Romans, and by his forces spoyling Thracia, whiles the Greekes were diuided amongst themselues. He also chased the Roman garrisons out of the coast-townes which they held in Afrike. Abdimelec being dead, uCalled of Leo, Qualid, & of Scal.Walid.110.Vbitus the sonne of Abedramon sncceeded, vnderunder whome the Saracens, besides the spoile of Galatia, conquered all Afrike betwixt Niger and the Sea, a little peece excepted at the mouth of the Straits subiect to Rodericus the King of Spaine: Mucas was made Lieutenant of the Saracen Empire in Afrike. To him Iulianus Earle of Cepta, full of indignation against his Prince, for deflouring his faire daughter Caba, about the yeare seuen hundred and twelue, offereth the conquest of Spaine, if hee would furnish him with some competent forces of his Saracens. This traitour, thus strengthened with the authority of his place (being Gouernour of the Ile Viridis and diuers places in Africa and Spaine) backed with his friends, and aided with the Saracens, ouerthrew the Gottish Empire, which had now ruled Spaine about three hundred yeeres: Rodericus loosing the field and his state, and spending the remnant of his daies with an Hermite in a solitarie desart of Lusitania. Iulianus himselfe was after slaine by the Saracens, as were the Spanish Traytours; the iust end of vniust treacherie.
Zulciminius the next xAnno 717. Suleiman.Caliph sent Malsamas with a great power into Thrace, where hauing spoiled the Countrey, he laid siege to yCurio. lib.2.Constantinople; Zulciminius his maister assaulting it by Sea, with a nauy of three thousand shippes, in which siege he died, Anno Domini seuen hundred and nineteene. Aumar. zWolfgang. Dreschler. Chro.Omar.his successour, had no successe in this attempt, partly, through the violence of frost, causing famine and diseases in his campe, and partly, by the force of an artificiall Glasse, where with Leo the Emperour cast fire amongst the enemies fleete, and fiering euen the Seas about the shippes: that by this subtilty and force of tempest, of three thousand saile, fiue shippes onelyonly are said to hauehave escaped. aIezid.Gizid, sent with supply of three hundred and three score shippes, durst not approach for feare of this fire: and the Saracens by their Caliph were reuoked, when the plague had slaine in Constantinople three hundred thousand people.
When Aumar was dead, Gizid was chosen in his place; and after him Hascham sonne of Abdelmelech: who being murthered, Walid, or Euelit sonne of Iezid; in whose time the bottome of the Sea, neere the coasts of Asia minor, burned, and sent foorth smoke first, and after, heapes of stones, with which the shores of Asia, Lesbos, and Macedonia, were filled, and a new Iland bP.Diac.Leo.tooke beginning of the heaping together of earth, which was annexed to the Iland called Sacra.
The Saracens in Spaine erected amongst themselues many petite kingdomes, and by their diuisions made way to Pelagius, with some remainder of the Spaniards to recouer some of their lost countrey, who dying in the yeare seuen hundred thirtie and two, his sonne Fafila succeeded, in whose time the Saracens passed the Pyrenaean hills into France, where Theodoricus the second was then King, but cPaul.Aemil.libr.2.Charles Martell master of the Kings house ruled, as did his father in that office before, and his sonne, (both Pipins) after him. The Saracens tooke Narbone, and after Burdeaux, killing in it, man, woman, and childe, and rasing the Temples to the ground; they passed Garunna, and ouerturned Angolesme and Bloys, and came into dToures.Turon, where Eudo the Goth then King of a great part of France, in warres with Martell, for feare of the common enemie, entred league, and with their ioynt forces slew three hundred and seuentie fiue thousand Saracens; and those of Nauarre slew the rest that escaped, in their returne. But when Eudo was dead, Martell tooke part of his kingdome from his sonnes Hunoldus, and Vaifarus, who thereupon recalled the Saracens, which vnderunder the leading of Atinus tooke Auenion by the treason of Mauricius then Gouernour, from whence, and out of France they were driuen eAnnis 735. & 737. & 738.by Martellus.
The Saracens made foure inuasions into Thrace while Euelitus was Caliph, to whome succeeded Anno 74 fIezid.Gizit the third, who wasted Cyprus, and carried away the people into Syria. After him and gHisan.Ices, (which two ruled not two yeares) Marvan reigned; and after, another of the same name, and the Saracens were diuided. Tebid Dadac, and Zulciminius, challenged each to himselfe the soueraignety: and when all these were ouerthrowne and slaine, Asmulinus amongst the Persians raised vp the seruants to murther their maisters, and with them he ouerthrew Iblinus with one hundred thousand Saracens; and after, Marvan himselfe with three hundred thousand, who fleeing into Aegypt, was there also vanquished and slaine in a Temple.
This murther grew through the faction of the Abasian stocke, who conspired against him, because he had slaine one of their kinred. Abulabas the chiefe of this conspiracie succeeded him, in the hIos Scal Can. Is.lib.2.& lib.3.yeare 749, and remoued the Chaliphate to that family from the Maraunians, in the yeare of their Hegeira, 132 after the Arabian computation; as we follow Scaliger herein; and he the Chronicle which Abraham Zacuthi gathered out of the Monuments of the Ismaelites. In the former relations, we hauehave principally followed Curio his Saracenicall history: though by the way we hauehave borrowed of others also.
This Abulabas being dead, Abugephar Elmantzar iAnn… Dom. 753. Heg.136.succeeded. Hee imprisoned the twelue sonnes of Hasin the sonne of Ali, where they perished; Hee beganne first to build the City of Bagded: he died kAn.Dom. 774inthe 158 yeare. Iohn di Barros lAs.dec.1. lib.1ascribeth this City to the Bug…afar also, for so hee calleth him; but Curio to one Muamat long after. Scaliger mAnimad.in Euseb. chron. Lydyat em. tem.thinketh this to be Seleucia, a City built nigh vntounto Babylon by Seleucus, neare the meeting & mixing of Euphrates and Tigris; of which see our Babylonian historie.
Mahdi his sonne succeeded n781. 786. 808. 813.anno He. 165. after him Abarm Erreschid, Anno He. 170: and in the yeare 193. Irvin the sonne of Reschid, slaine by the faction of his brother Mamon 198. This Mamon was studious of learning and learned men: Hee made Ali King of Chorasan, and made a Lawe, That the posteritie of Ali should be cloathed in yellow silke. In his time many Bookes were turned out of Greeke into Arabian; hee died in the yeare o832. Anno Dom.841. 861.218. Mutetzam followed: and after him in the yeare 226 of the Hegira Aharan Elwathak: and next to him Methucal, who was slaine in the yeare 247 by a Turke. Muthnatzar his sonne and succeslour died in the yeare after, whom Elmustein followed; vnderunder him the Turkenien set vp Achmad sonne of Tolon seruant of Mamon King of Aegypt and Syria, and slew the Chalipha anno H. 255. anno Domini 868.
After this time was the Caliphate or Popedome diuided, one sitting at Bagded, an other in Aegypt. The Aegyptian Chaliphs in our Egyptian History are expressed in their due place and order. In Bagded succeeded Muhtadi. And the next yeare Mutemad, who died p892. 900. 907. 931.anno He. 279. Mutetzad his successour died 288. Muchtaphi, who slew Aharan the last of Tolons family that reigned in Aegypt, died 295. Mutetdan held the place till the yeare three hundred and twenty. The next was Elkahar, to whome succeeded in the next yeare, Ratze, and after him Muktaphe his brother, who made Toson a Turke his chiefe Captaine; of whome afterwards hee was blinded. Mustekaphe succeeded q943.anno H. three hundred fortie and two. In his dayes the family of Bawia ruled, whose sonne Meaz Eddula slew the Chaliph. Their Father had dreamed, that as hee pissed, fire ascended from his yard vp to Heauen: which the Diuiners tolde him, fignified the ensuing greatnes of his sonnes.
Hee placed Matia in the Chaliphate, but ruled all things himselfe. VntoUnto Matia succeeded Taia, in his time Meaz Ledin Iilah was made K. of Mecca, Medina, Aliman; Egypt hee obtained before. Etzad Eddula sonne of Meaz repaired Bagded, now much decayed, and gaue his daughter in marriage to the Chalipha. This r981. 990.Etzad Eddula died anno Hegirae 371. to whom Tzautzam Eddula succeeded, imprisoned by Beha Eddula, as was also Thia the Chaliph, and his house spoyled anno Hegoriae 353. Sultan Eddula Segia reigned after this Beha, and Kadar was Chalipha after Tasa. Scheraph Eddula raigned anno Hegirae 411. Kaim succeeded in the Papacie anno Hegirae 1020.422. and fiue yeares after Muktadi. The 1031.Sultan being dead, and leauing a fonne of three yeares olde; his wife, the Babes mother, purchased the Sultanship of the Chalipha with a great summe of money.
About this time flourished Ben Gazela, which made many Bookes of Physicke. Mustetaher was next Chalipha. In his time the Astrologers foretolde an exceeding 1095.deluge, not so great as in the dayes of Noah, because then (said they) were seuen Planets in Coniunction with Pisces, whereas now there were but sixe, Saturne being excluded. This made the Inhabitants of Bagded afrayd, because of the lowe situation: and caused them to stoppe the passages of the waters. The Ismaelites which of deuotion perfourmed their Pilgrimage, were most of them drowned. The Chalipha for this cause arayed the Astrologer, which foretolde this, in royall apparell. Hee died s1118.anno Hegirae 512. Musteraschad succeeded, then Raschid, and in the 1135.yeare 530. Muktaphi. In his time were terrible Earthquakes, which made hauocke of all about Damasco, Aleppo, Tripolis, Antiochia, and Laodicea. Tigris ouerflowed 1.60.Bagded, and desolated many other Citties. In anno Hegirae 555. succeeded Musteneged, who by his Physicians policie was strangled in the Bath, by the violence 1170.of the heate, the doore being shut. His sonne Mustetzi enioyed the roome 566. In his time the Abasian Caliphaes were receiued in Egypt, which the Phetimeans of Ali his posteritie had before separated.
Natzar succeeded t1179. 1225.anno Hegirae 575. and Taher his sonne 621. Next Mestenatzar which gaue much Almes, and built many Schooles. In his dayes arose in Asia, one Baba, which professed himselfe a Prophet sent of God; who gathered an armie of the scumme of all Nations, whereby he filled Asia with bloud and slaughter, both of Christians and Israelites, vntill Glatheddin King of Gunia destroyed him.
In the yeare 640, of CHRIST one thousand two hundred forty and two, succeeded Musteatzem, the foure and fiftieth Saracenicall Chalipha. The Tartar King Chita made his brother Halacho King of Irak and Mesopotamia, who besieged and sacked Bagded, and slew Musteatzem. This Chalipha was starued by his commaundement in the middest of his treasures, because hee would not employ the same (through niggardise) for his owne defence. From that time there hath beene no Chaliph (saith this Arabian History) in Bagded. In him ended the Abasian line, of which had beene fiue and thirty Chaliphaes.
After Mahumet or Muhammed the false prophet, the first Captaines of warre were called Emirelmumenim, that is to say, Praefecti orthodoxorum, the Captaines of the Sound-Beleeuers: and after, because, vnderunder cloake of Religion, they seised on the Primacie and tyranny (spirituall and temporall) they named themselues Chaliphaes, that is, Vicars. The first Emirelmumenim was Abubecher. When by his successors, Gouernours uSuch were the gouernors of Chorasan, Irak, Siras, Damasco. Ie…n, Mutzul, Halep, Gunia, Mahaan: The Arabian calleth them Kings: & their heirs succeeded them.were sent into Spaine and Africa, they for a time held the same as Deputies, although to their power nothing lacked but the title of a King, yet they professed to doe all in the name of the Emirelmumenim vntill afterwardes they tooke that Title also themselues, and became absolute. Whence all the pettite Kings of Spaine, and the African Potentates, were called Emire elmumenim; and the Kings of Barbary are so stilled at this day, euen as the French King is called Christianissimus, and the Spaniard Catholicus. The Legates of the Chalipha were called Naibin, which also signifieth the same that Chalipha; but this was made peculiar to those Saracen Tyrants, which vsed both Swords, (to speake in the Roman language) supreame in matters Diuine and Humane. Thus obserueth Ioseph Scaliger xCan. Isag.l.3.of these names: whereby it appeareth, that Emire elmumenim was not giuen onelyonly to Abedramon and his successours in Africa, as is before obserued out of Curio.
Thus hauehave wee giuen you a Chronographicall view of the auncient Chaliphaes, with their first and greatest Conquests, omitting the lesser and later; as in the yeare 807. in Sardinia and Corsica: in 826. in Creete: 843. in Sicill; and presently after in yLud.Reg.lib.8Italy, ouerrunning Tuscan, and burning the suburbs of Rome it selfe, with the Churches of Peter and Paul 845. the next yeare in Illyria, Dalmatia; besides the taking of Ancona: in 847. chased by Pope zPlat.…m vita Pont.Leo from Ostia. These with other their affaires of warre, in Lucania, Calabria, Apulia, at Beneuentum, Genua, Capua, (which Cities they tooke) I passe ouer. After this great body grew lubberly and vnweldy, it fell vnderunder the weight of it selfe, none so much as the Saracens ouerthrowing the Saracens, as their aCairaoan became a Papacie absolute, though schismatical as they called it: so did Marocco: the Persians were always p…one to such schismes: and others, as it serued for their aduantage.Sects and Diuisions make plaine. Neuerthelesse; this dis-joyning and disjoynting notwithstanding, their Religion euen still couereth a great part of the World. For besides the triumphing sword of the Turke, Persian, Mogore, Barbarian, and other Mahumetan Princes: such is the zeale of the superstitious Mahumetane, that in places furthest distant, this their Religion hath beene preached, which they trade together with their marchandise, euen from the Atlantike Ocean vntounto the Philippinaes: It hath founded in China, it hath pierced Tartaria: and although the name of Christian extendeth it selfe into so many Sects and Professions in the Countries of Asia, Africke, and America, besides Europe (almost wholly Christian;) yet is it hard to say, whether there be not as many Disciples and Professours of this ridiculous and impious deuotion, as of all those which giuegive their names to CHRIST, in whatsoeuer truth or heresie.
Thus hath the Field and the Church stouped to Mahumet: wee may adde more, (Saul among the Prophets:) Learning hath flourished amongst the Mahumetans, at first so vnlearned and rude. bLud.Reg.Avicen, Averrois, Avempace, Algazel, &c. Philosophers; Mesve, Rasis, and many other Physicians and Astrologers, mentioned in the Chronicles of Zacuthe; Leo, and Abilfadis Ismael. Geographers; Cairaoan, Bagded; Fez, Marocco, Corduba, &c. were Vniuersities of Saracen-students. But now Learning and Schooles are decayed and ruined: euen as at first also it was amongst them little countenanced, as appeareth by that Hagag in the 96. yeare of the Hegira, 714.who beeing Gouernour of King of cWhereof Tauris is chiefe city: M. Poln lib.1.ca.9 calleth it Hirach. Magin Media maior.Irak, in his sickenesse consulted with an Astrologer, Whether the Starres had tolde him of any Kings death that yeare: hee aunswered, That a King should die, but his name was Cani: Whereupon Hagag, remembering that at his birth his Mother had imposed that name on him: I shall die, saith he; but thou shalt goe one houre before: and presently caused his head to bee smitten off. An vnhappy Harbengership in reward of his Arte: an vnhappy Arte which can better tell others Destinies then their owne. But no maruell in Hagag, who was fleshed in bloud, that his Herodian Testament should be thus bloudy, who in his life had in that Median Prouince slaine a hundred and twenty thousand men, besides fiftie thousand men, and foure score thousand women, which perished in his imprisonments.